10/19/2006
Police: Massachusetts Male Cheerleader Assault a Hate Crime
A questionable incident between a male high school cheerleader from Malden, Massachusetts and a pair of fans from an opposing team in Melrose is now being considered a hate crime, according to police.
The incident took place after a game in September:
"Following the game, the Malden cheerleading squad exited through the crowd towards the team bus, according to Pat Ruggiero, Melrose director of health, physical education and athletics. According to police reports, a 17-year-old, male cheerleader from Malden alleged that an unidentified female teen from Melrose began harassing him with homosexual slurs. When the cheerleader ignored the taunts, a male teen accompanying the female, described as a 17-year-old, white male with a lip piercing and wearing a black hat, allegedly punched the cheerleader in the face and several times in the chest."
After talking with the victim, police have decided to brand the incident a hate crime as verbal slurs were attached to an assault. Police are searching for the suspects. Melrose High School, which held a Diversity Day event after the incident and reportedly disciplined the students involved, feels their actions were appropriate.
The school's superintendent disagrees with the police: "We don’t feel it was a hate crime. We took a negative and turned it into a positive, both for Melrose and Malden."
Posted 1:45 PM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, Football (American), Massachusetts, News | Permalink
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Ahh... news from my neck of the woods.
Can I just say that I don't understand what part of this exactly is supposed to be positive? Oh, great, Melrose held a "Diversity Day!" Whoopee!!
Clearly, when there are hate crimes going on, there's probably something a little more deeply embedded than what a "Diversity Day" can cure. Plus, they can't even throw in GLBT into the name of the day? blah.
Posted by: Ryan | Oct 19, 2006 1:57:59 PM
I'm also from this area (lived in Malden until I was 25 years old). Melrose and Malden are on the North Shore of Massachusetts and it is still a very homophobic area overall. It doesn't surprise me that the school admins. would not consider this a hate crime. I feel sorry for any gay kids who actually go to that high school with such an attitude. What is a hate crime to them and does violence against gays even qualify as a hate crime to them at all?
Posted by: Patrick | Oct 19, 2006 3:30:22 PM
Oh, one more thing, I was really quite surprised that Malden High School would even have male cheerleaders at all. I've been to a few local highschool football games recently in the same area, none playing against these two cities..but my city is a neighboring one, and I've never seen a male cheerleader yet. I guess I have to give Malden Highschool some credit for having at least one. It shows that times have changed.
Posted by: Patrick | Oct 19, 2006 3:34:27 PM
Diversity Day my AS@, a hate crime is a hate crime, no matter how old or young. I think it sets a good example that the hate crime laws are there for a reason and will be enforced. Kudos to the police department of that area.
Posted by: Leonard | Oct 19, 2006 7:43:31 PM
i don't understand the superintendents line. can anybody explain what he means?
Posted by: ubik | Oct 20, 2006 7:19:20 AM